NBA veteran center Jason Collins comes out as gay

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AR182

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The Mover said:
NBA veteran center Jason Collins comes out as gay in Sports Illustrated article

Published April 29, 2013

NEW YORK ? NBA veteran Jason Collins became the first active male player in the four major American professional sports to come out as gay.

The 34-year-old center, who has played for six teams in 12 seasons, wrote a first-person account posted on Sports Illustrated's website Monday. Collins finished this past season with the Washington Wizards and is now a free agent. He says he wants to keep playing.

"If I had my way, someone else would have already done this," he writes. "Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."

Collins played in a Final Four for Stanford and reached two NBA Finals. His twin brother, Jarron, was also a longtime NBA center. Jason says he came out to his brother last summer.

NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement: "Jason has been a widely respected player and teammate throughout his career and we are proud he has assumed the leadership mantle on this very important issue."

Among those offering support on social media was former first daughter Chelsea Clinton, a friend from Stanford. She tweeted: "Very proud of my friend Jason Collins for having the strength & courage to be the first openly gay player in the NBA."

Mostly a backup in his career, Collins has averaged 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds for the Nets, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Hawks, Celtics and Wizards. He was traded from Boston to Washington in February. Collins was the 18th pick in the first round of the 2001 NBA draft.

Several male athletes have previously come out after they retired, including the NBA's John Amaechi, the NFL's Esera Tuaolo and Major League Baseball's Billy Bean. But Collins is the first to do so while planning to continue playing.
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It shows guts for him to come out....I respect him for doing so....
 
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Mags

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Congrats to him for having the courage to come out.... I'm sure that was difficult, being a public figure and NBA player.

I do find it interesting that the media is making a big point about Collins being an "active NBA player". Yes, he played in 2012-13 - a few games. Currently, he is not on anyone's roster, and is looking for a job for 2013-14.

Add in the fact that Jason Collins, over the previous 5 years in the NBA, has only averaged playing 34 games a year (less than 1/2 the schedule) - playing for 4 different teams over those 5 years - and he is 34 years old.

He currently is an unemployed journeyman NBA player, at an age where it can be difficult to get the next contract.

While it certainly may not be his primary reason for coming out, you have to wonder if his future NBA prospects played out a bit in the timing. He certainly was no lock for a job in the NBA next year, at 35 years old, and he'd been bouncing around for 5 years already.

But this way, he is set up perfectly: the coming out announcement could help him land an NBA job, with a team looking to make a statement. And if he doesn't get an NBA job next year, then of course the media will play it up as homophobic bias of the NBA. Either way, it is helpful to Collins.

Like I said earlier in this message, I don't think that the potential to play next year in the NBA is the primary reason that Collins came out. But it is easy to see how, by doing so, it will play to his advantage in finding an NBA team to take him next year, or provide a convenient excuse why he didn't get a job.
 
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hedgehog

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He is nothing more than an attention whore

I agree with Mike Wallace, all these beautiful women in this world and guy messes with another guy, SMH :142smilie he is my new favorite player in the NFL
 
ImFeklhr

ImFeklhr

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Mags said:
Congrats to him for having the courage to come out.... I'm sure that was difficult, being a public figure and NBA player.

I do find it interesting that the media is making a big point about Collins being an "active NBA player". Yes, he played in 2012-13 - a few games. Currently, he is not on anyone's roster, and is looking for a job for 2013-14.

Add in the fact that Jason Collins, over the previous 5 years in the NBA, has only averaged playing 34 games a year (less than 1/2 the schedule) - playing for 4 different teams over those 5 years - and he is 34 years old.

He currently is an unemployed journeyman NBA player, at an age where it can be difficult to get the next contract.

While it certainly may not be his primary reason for coming out, you have to wonder if his future NBA prospects played out a bit in the timing. He certainly was no lock for a job in the NBA next year, at 35 years old, and he'd been bouncing around for 5 years already.

But this way, he is set up perfectly: the coming out announcement could help him land an NBA job, with a team looking to make a statement. And if he doesn't get an NBA job next year, then of course the media will play it up as homophobic bias of the NBA. Either way, it is helpful to Collins.

Like I said earlier in this message, I don't think that the potential to play next year in the NBA is the primary reason that Collins came out. But it is easy to see how, by doing so, it will play to his advantage in finding an NBA team to take him next year, or provide a convenient excuse why he didn't get a job.
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I pretty much agree with this, though I'm trying not to be completely cynical about this. It's the perfect moment for him.

The atmosphere was ripe for someone to come out. Everyone was waiting for a Jason Collins.
It's not very "challenging" to anyone. He has already made his millions and is in the sunset of his career (or even beyond the sunset).

And yeah I think this puts him on the radar when he most needs it. Either to get 1 more year on the court or dovetail into some broadcasting/commentary.
But hey, nothing wrong with making the right decision at the right time for yourself. It?s not as if he isn?t gay and is purely using it for publicity.

In a life where you have been hiding the truth for years, no matter what the other circumstances are, the phrase "I'm gay" is never an easy one to say. So cheers to him. :toast:
 
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